Federal data sheds light on isle health

Hawaii residents can smile about keeping their teeth longer than residents of any other state, but men in Hawaii came in last when it came to getting a prostate test.

These were some of the results published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently in a report detailing the healthiest states and cities in America.

The little-publicized survey, which was taken in 2006 and published in August, said the results underscore the need for prevention and health promotion activities at all levels of government.

Hawaii fell in the middle or lower end of the pack in rates of heart disease, obesity, getting mammograms and physical activity but topped some categories showing good health habits.

Only 9.6 percent of Hawaii residents over 64 years in age in the study had lost all their teeth. In contrast, West Virginia had the highest rate of lost teeth at 40.5 percent.

Dr. Max Botticelli, chief executive officer of University Health Alliance, said some residents might have longer-lasting teeth because more of them are insured.

"The number of uninsured (residents in Hawaii) is lower than other states," said Botticelli, a former University of Hawaii medical professor. "It encourages people to take advantage of the benefits, and the benefits include dental care in a large percentage of those people with health insurance."

The survey shows Hawaii has the highest rate of insured adults, at 91.7 percent, compared with other states. The national median was 85.5 percent.